Edwardsville sweeps at Belleville West cross country regional

Edwardsville sophomore Abby Korak covered the three-mile course at Belleville West in 17 minutes, 39 seconds to take medalist honors as the Tigers swept the team titles at the Class 3A Belleville West Cross Country Regional.

Edwardsville teammates Abby Schrobilgen and Melissa Spencer placed third and fifth, respectively, for the Tigers, who finished with 25 points, well ahead of second-place O’Fallon (51).

Quincy (89 points), Belleville East (91), Collinsville (156) and Alton (166) rounded out the top-six teams. All will advance to the Granite City sectional Oct. 28.

In the boys race, Granite City junior Andrew O’Keefe was the individual champion, but Edwardsville captured the next four places to win the team championship.

O’Keefe reaffirmed his position as the top Class 3A runner in Southern Illinois as he covered the course in 15:08. That time was four seconds better than Edwardsville junior Roland Prenzler (15:12).

Edwardsville won the meet with 21 points, followed by O’Fallon (65 points) and Belleville East (103). Granite City (126), Collinsville (131) and Belleville West (142) also advanced to the Granite City sectional.

Class 2A Highland Regional

Two time all-state runner Jenna Schwartz captured the individual title by more than a minute, while Waterloo teammate Ella King placed second to lead the Bulldogs to the girls team title at the Class 2A Highland Regional.

Considered one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state title in two weeks, Schwartz finished the three mile course in 17:41, a full 1:15 faster than King, who finished in 18:56. Highland sophomore Samantha Hengehold was third with a time of 19:16.

Waterloo won the team title with 47 points, 13 less than Mississippi Valley Conference rival Triad (60). Also advancing to the Decatur MacArthur sectional Oct. 28 were Mascoutah (67), Highland (78), Carbondale (105) and East St. Louis (219).

In the boys division it was the Mascoutah Indians, placing two runners in the top 10, who defeated Waterloo for the team title. Junior Casmir Cozzi was fourth overall, and senior Brandon Johnson placed sixth to lead the way for the Indians, who finished with 51 points, 20 less than Waterloo.

Also advancing were Triad (112), Carbondale (112), Marion (117) and Mount Vernon. Marion senior John Bruce won the title with a time of 15:38.

Class 1A New Athens Regional

Freeburg sophomore Breanna Chandler led a dominating performance as she won the girls division to lead the Midgets to an easy sweep of the team championships at the Class 1A New Athens Regional.

An all-state runner a year ago, Chandler ran a time of 18:57. Her time was 16 seconds better than Okawville senior Madelyn Tepe, who finished in 19:13. The Midgets finished with a five-runner score of 48 points, eight less than runner-up Mater Dei (56).

Those two teams advance to the Benton sectional Oct. 28, along with New Athens (97), Okawville (141), Salem (149), Althoff (155) and Central (185).

In the boys race, Wesclin freshman Justin Mumford outkicked Freeburg senior Charlie Parrish to win the individual championship. Mumford finished with a time of 15:30, three seconds better than Parrish (15:30). Mater Dei senior Luke Goebel was a distant third with 15:57.

Freeburg won the team title with 35 points, while Mater Dei was second with 67 points. Also advancing were Columbia (79), Wesclin (102), Gibault (147), Okawville (182) and New Athens (193).

Class 1A Carterville Sectional

The Nashville Hornets had three runners place in the top 10 as they nipped Pinckneyville for the title in the girls division of the Carterville regional. Jaylyn Bower placed third overall to lead the way for Nashville, which was the lone local team to advance.

In the boys division, it was Steeleville (66 points) that nipped Nashville (67) for the championship. Red Bud (108) placed fourth and will join the six other boys teams at the Benton sectional Oct. 28.

This story was originally published October 21, 2017 at 9:37 PM with the headline "Edwardsville sweeps at Belleville West cross country regional."